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Digest of Education Statistics: 2016
Digest of Education Statistics: 2016

NCES 2017-094
February 2018


Table 224.74a. Average National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) technology and engineering literacy (TEL) scale score and percentage distribution of 8th-graders, by frequency of learning about or discussing various technology- and society-related topics in school and selected student and school characteristics: 2014
[Standard errors appear in parentheses]
Selected student or school characteristic Frequency of learning about or discussing topic in school1
Choices people make that affect the environment Inventions that change the way people live The ways people work together to solve problems in their community or the world
Never Rarely Sometimes Often Never Rarely Sometimes Often Never Rarely Sometimes Often
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
  Average TEL scale score2
All students 126 (1.1) 144 (0.8) 154 (0.6) 155 (0.8) 124 (1.1) 141 (0.7) 155 (0.6) 158 (0.8) 133 (1.1) 148 (0.9) 153 (0.6) 153 (0.7)
Sex                                                
Male 124 (1.5) 143 (1.1) 153 (0.7) 154 (1.1) 121 (1.3) 140 (1.2) 154 (0.7) 158 (1.0) 129 (1.5) 148 (1.1) 152 (0.8) 152 (0.9)
Female 128 (1.8) 145 (0.9) 155 (0.7) 156 (0.9) 127 (1.3) 142 (0.9) 156 (0.8) 159 (0.9) 138 (1.4) 148 (1.0) 154 (0.6) 154 (0.9)
                                                 
Race/ethnicity                                                
White 137 (2.2) 155 (1.1) 164 (0.7) 164 (1.0) 132 (1.8) 152 (0.9) 164 (0.8) 168 (0.9) 144 (1.6) 158 (1.3) 163 (0.7) 164 (1.0)
Black 108 (2.2) 121 (1.6) 131 (1.4) 137 (1.3) 110 (2.1) 120 (1.6) 132 (1.3) 138 (1.3) 116 (2.1) 126 (1.4) 131 (1.4) 133 (1.3)
Hispanic 116 (2.0) 133 (1.0) 142 (0.8) 144 (1.1) 117 (1.4) 131 (1.0) 142 (0.7) 148 (1.3) 122 (1.8) 138 (1.0) 140 (0.8) 142 (0.9)
Asian (†) 149 (3.7) 163 (2.1) 166 (2.3) (†) 147 (3.2) 164 (2.1) 168 (2.3) (†) 156 (2.9) 162 (2.1) 164 (2.1)
Pacific Islander (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
American Indian/Alaska Native (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
Two or more races (†) 147 (4.5) 159 (2.7) 154 (4.4) (†) 147 (3.6) 158 (3.3) 158 (4.3) (†) 152 (4.9) 159 (3.1) 155 (4.8)
                                                 
English language learner (ELL) status                                                
ELL 94 (2.6) 104 (2.0) 114 (2.3) 115 (2.1) 98 (2.4) 104 (2.0) 112 (1.8) 118 (3.3) 95 (2.9) 106 (2.7) 112 (2.1) 113 (1.8)
Non-ELL 129 (1.2) 147 (0.8) 156 (0.6) 156 (0.8) 126 (1.1) 144 (0.7) 157 (0.7) 160 (0.8) 136 (1.0) 150 (1.0) 155 (0.7) 155 (0.7)
                                                 
Disability status3                                                
Identified as student with disability (SD) 97 (1.7) 113 (2.0) 123 (1.5) 125 (2.2) 100 (1.9) 112 (1.8) 124 (1.8) 128 (2.4) 100 (1.9) 116 (2.4) 122 (1.9) 122 (2.0)
Not identified as SD 135 (1.2) 149 (0.8) 158 (0.6) 158 (0.8) 132 (1.0) 146 (0.7) 158 (0.6) 161 (0.8) 142 (1.1) 153 (0.8) 157 (0.6) 156 (0.7)
                                                 
Highest education level of either parent4                                                
Did not finish high school 114 (3.8) 129 (2.0) 136 (1.2) 137 (1.6) 112 (3.2) 126 (1.4) 137 (1.4) 143 (2.0) 121 (3.6) 131 (2.0) 135 (1.3) 137 (1.6)
Graduated high school 122 (2.9) 132 (1.5) 141 (1.0) 142 (1.7) 121 (2.1) 130 (1.1) 141 (1.4) 147 (1.5) 126 (2.5) 137 (1.5) 140 (0.9) 139 (1.7)
Some education after high school 138 (2.9) 149 (1.4) 154 (0.9) 154 (1.4) 132 (2.3) 144 (1.2) 156 (1.0) 157 (1.2) 142 (2.2) 150 (1.7) 154 (1.0) 153 (1.2)
Graduated college 133 (1.8) 154 (1.1) 163 (0.7) 162 (0.9) 131 (1.6) 151 (1.1) 164 (0.8) 165 (0.8) 142 (1.6) 158 (1.1) 163 (0.8) 161 (0.8)
                                                 

                                               
Percent of students in school eligible for
      free or reduced-price lunch
                                               
0 to 25 percent eligible 146 (3.6) 161 (1.6) 170 (1.2) 171 (1.3) 140 (3.2) 159 (2.0) 169 (1.2) 174 (1.5) 152 (2.9) 165 (1.2) 169 (1.2) 170 (1.5)
26 to 50 percent eligible 131 (2.6) 151 (1.4) 159 (1.2) 158 (1.2) 130 (1.9) 147 (1.4) 159 (1.1) 162 (1.1) 140 (2.1) 154 (1.8) 158 (1.0) 157 (1.3)
51 to 75 percent eligible 123 (2.2) 137 (1.5) 148 (0.9) 147 (1.3) 120 (1.7) 136 (1.1) 148 (1.1) 151 (1.3) 130 (1.7) 141 (1.3) 147 (1.1) 145 (1.2)
76 to 100 percent eligible 113 (2.2) 125 (1.5) 136 (1.1) 137 (1.5) 114 (1.8) 124 (1.2) 137 (1.2) 141 (1.5) 118 (2.1) 130 (1.4) 135 (1.2) 135 (1.4)
                                                 
School control                                                
Public 125 (1.3) 143 (0.8) 153 (0.6) 153 (0.8) 123 (1.1) 140 (0.7) 154 (0.7) 157 (0.8) 132 (1.1) 147 (1.0) 152 (0.6) 151 (0.7)
Private 144 (4.4) 159 (2.6) 167 (1.6) 167 (1.8) 137 (4.3) 153 (2.3) 166 (1.8) 170 (1.5) 151 (4.5) 162 (1.8) 165 (1.7) 167 (1.9)
                                                 
School locale                                                
City 120 (1.8) 137 (1.5) 148 (1.0) 151 (1.2) 117 (1.8) 134 (1.2) 149 (1.1) 155 (1.1) 126 (1.8) 143 (1.2) 147 (1.1) 149 (1.2)
Suburb 129 (2.0) 147 (1.4) 158 (1.1) 158 (1.3) 127 (1.7) 144 (1.3) 159 (1.2) 162 (1.0) 137 (1.9) 150 (1.4) 158 (1.1) 156 (1.2)
Town 122 (3.3) 146 (2.6) 153 (1.8) 153 (2.1) 123 (2.6) 142 (2.7) 155 (1.2) 156 (2.5) 132 (3.1) 148 (2.1) 152 (1.3) 152 (2.6)
Rural 129 (2.5) 146 (1.8) 156 (1.4) 155 (1.6) 128 (2.1) 145 (1.8) 155 (1.4) 159 (1.6) 136 (2.3) 150 (1.9) 155 (1.5) 153 (1.6)
  Percentage distribution of students
All students 6 (0.2) 20 (0.4) 47 (0.5) 26 (0.4) 8 (0.2) 20 (0.3) 45 (0.4) 27 (0.5) 8 (0.2) 21 (0.3) 43 (0.4) 28 (0.4)
Sex                                                
Male 7 (0.3) 21 (0.5) 47 (0.6) 24 (0.6) 9 (0.3) 20 (0.5) 45 (0.5) 26 (0.6) 8 (0.3) 22 (0.5) 44 (0.5) 26 (0.5)
Female 5 (0.3) 19 (0.5) 47 (0.5) 29 (0.5) 7 (0.3) 20 (0.4) 45 (0.6) 27 (0.5) 7 (0.2) 21 (0.4) 42 (0.5) 30 (0.5)
                                                 
Race/ethnicity                                                
White 6 (0.3) 21 (0.8) 49 (0.8) 25 (0.6) 7 (0.4) 19 (0.4) 47 (0.5) 27 (0.7) 7 (0.3) 22 (0.5) 45 (0.5) 26 (0.5)
Black 8 (0.4) 20 (0.7) 42 (0.8) 31 (0.9) 11 (0.6) 21 (0.7) 38 (0.9) 30 (1.0) 9 (0.5) 21 (0.8) 37 (0.7) 32 (0.9)
Hispanic 7 (0.4) 21 (0.7) 46 (0.6) 26 (0.7) 10 (0.4) 23 (0.6) 44 (0.7) 24 (0.7) 8 (0.3) 21 (0.5) 42 (0.7) 28 (0.7)
Asian 4 (0.6) 15 (1.0) 51 (1.5) 30 (1.2) 5 (0.6) 17 (1.2) 49 (1.6) 29 (1.5) 4 (0.5) 18 (1.0) 46 (1.4) 32 (1.5)
Pacific Islander 4 (2.1) 21 (4.4) 43 (7.3) 32 (6.9) 8 (3.4) 22 (4.1) 34 (6.4) 35 (7.2) 4 (2.1) 11 (3.5) 56 (4.6) 29 (4.7)
American Indian/Alaska Native 7 (2.4) 18 (3.5) 49 (4.3) 25 (3.5) 12 (3.1) 23 (4.1) 38 (5.3) 27 (3.4) 15 (3.2) 24 (4.0) 37 (4.8) 24 (3.9)
Two or more races 3 (0.9) 18 (1.9) 49 (3.0) 30 (2.4) 6 (1.6) 17 (2.0) 48 (2.3) 29 (2.5) 5 (0.9) 20 (1.7) 39 (2.3) 36 (2.4)
                                                 
English language learner (ELL) status                                                
ELL 12 (1.0) 26 (1.3) 42 (1.5) 20 (1.5) 15 (1.2) 27 (1.3) 41 (1.5) 17 (1.6) 12 (0.9) 21 (1.3) 42 (1.6) 26 (1.4)
Non-ELL 6 (0.2) 20 (0.5) 47 (0.5) 27 (0.5) 8 (0.3) 20 (0.3) 45 (0.4) 27 (0.5) 8 (0.2) 21 (0.3) 43 (0.4) 28 (0.5)
                                                 
Disability status3                                                
Identified as student with disability (SD) 13 (1.0) 26 (1.2) 40 (1.2) 20 (1.0) 18 (0.9) 25 (0.9) 38 (0.9) 19 (0.8) 14 (0.7) 24 (1.0) 38 (1.0) 25 (1.0)
Not identified as SD 5 (0.2) 20 (0.4) 48 (0.5) 27 (0.5) 7 (0.2) 19 (0.3) 46 (0.4) 28 (0.5) 7 (0.2) 21 (0.3) 44 (0.4) 28 (0.4)
                                                 
Highest education level of either parent4                                                
Did not finish high school 9 (0.8) 21 (1.2) 45 (1.2) 26 (1.2) 11 (1.0) 24 (1.3) 41 (1.3) 24 (1.0) 10 (0.9) 23 (1.2) 39 (1.5) 27 (1.1)
Graduated high school 7 (0.7) 23 (0.9) 46 (1.2) 24 (0.9) 11 (0.7) 24 (0.9) 44 (1.0) 22 (0.9) 9 (0.6) 24 (0.9) 41 (1.1) 25 (1.0)
Some education after high school 5 (0.5) 21 (0.7) 47 (1.0) 28 (0.9) 6 (0.5) 20 (0.8) 46 (1.0) 28 (0.9) 7 (0.5) 22 (0.7) 43 (1.0) 29 (0.9)
Graduated college 5 (0.2) 19 (0.5) 48 (0.6) 28 (0.6) 6 (0.3) 18 (0.4) 46 (0.7) 30 (0.6) 7 (0.3) 20 (0.5) 44 (0.5) 29 (0.5)
                                                 
Percent of students in school eligible for
      free or reduced-price lunch
                                               
0-25 percent eligible 4 (0.4) 20 (1.0) 49 (1.0) 27 (1.0) 5 (0.5) 18 (0.9) 49 (1.1) 28 (1.3) 6 (0.7) 20 (0.8) 45 (1.1) 29 (0.9)
26-50 percent eligible 5 (0.4) 19 (0.8) 49 (1.0) 27 (1.0) 7 (0.4) 20 (0.8) 46 (1.0) 28 (1.2) 7 (0.4) 22 (0.7) 44 (0.8) 27 (1.0)
51-75 percent eligible 7 (0.4) 21 (0.9) 46 (1.0) 26 (0.8) 10 (0.5) 21 (0.6) 44 (0.7) 26 (0.7) 9 (0.5) 22 (0.7) 43 (0.8) 27 (0.8)
76-100 percent eligible 8 (0.5) 21 (0.9) 45 (1.0) 26 (0.8) 11 (0.6) 23 (0.8) 42 (1.0) 24 (0.9) 9 (0.5) 22 (0.9) 41 (0.8) 28 (0.8)
                                                 
School control                                                
Public 6 (0.2) 21 (0.5) 47 (0.5) 26 (0.5) 8 (0.2) 21 (0.3) 45 (0.4) 26 (0.5) 8 (0.2) 21 (0.3) 43 (0.4) 28 (0.4)
Private 4 (0.5) 19 (0.8) 49 (1.0) 29 (1.3) 4 (0.5) 15 (1.0) 46 (1.3) 35 (1.5) 5 (0.5) 20 (1.0) 43 (1.1) 32 (1.3)
                                                 
School locale                                                
City 6 (0.3) 20 (0.6) 47 (0.6) 28 (0.7) 8 (0.5) 20 (0.5) 44 (0.6) 27 (0.8) 8 (0.4) 21 (0.5) 42 (0.7) 30 (0.7)
Suburb 6 (0.3) 21 (0.8) 47 (0.7) 26 (0.7) 7 (0.3) 20 (0.4) 46 (0.6) 27 (0.8) 7 (0.2) 22 (0.5) 43 (0.6) 28 (0.7)
Town 7 (0.7) 22 (1.3) 47 (1.6) 25 (1.8) 8 (0.8) 23 (0.9) 44 (1.4) 25 (1.7) 9 (0.9) 20 (0.8) 44 (1.4) 27 (1.4)
Rural 6 (0.5) 20 (0.9) 48 (1.1) 26 (0.9) 9 (0.6) 19 (0.6) 45 (0.9) 27 (1.1) 8 (0.4) 22 (0.8) 43 (0.7) 26 (0.7)
†Not applicable.
‡Reporting standards not met (too few cases for a reliable estimate).
1 Based on student reports.
2 Scale ranges from 0 to 300.
3 The student with disability (SD) variable used in this table includes students who have a 504 plan, even if they do not have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
4 These data are based on students’ responses to questions about their parents’ education level. Data for students whose parents have an unknown level of education are included in table totals, but not shown separately.
NOTE: Includes students tested with accommodations (10 percent of all 8th-graders); excludes only those students with disabilities and English language learners who were unable to be tested even with accommodations (1 percent of all 8th-graders). Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2014 Technology and Engineering Literacy (TEL) Assessment, retrieved September 18, 2016, from the Main NAEP Data Explorer (http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/naepdata/). (This table was prepared September 2016.)